Container for granular depolarizers and process of making the same



May 22,1928. 2 1,670,585

G. A. LYON ET AL CONTAINER FOB GRANULAR'DEPOLARIZERS AND PROCESS OFMAKING THE SAME Filed Jan. 5, 1923 a gnvcnfo io:

' the like- Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFricE.

GODFREY A. LYONgOF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND RAYMOND W. ERWIN, OF FLUSHING,AND GEORGE W. HEISE, OF BAYSIDE, NEW YORK. ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, IN 0., OF NEW YORK,

TION OF NEW YORK.

N. Y., A CORPORA- CONTAINER FOR GRAN'ULAB DEPOLABIZEBS AND PROCESS OFMAKING THE Application filed January 5, 1923. Serial No. 610,844.

This invention relates to improvements in galvanic cells having agranular depolarizing composition retained within aperfo ratedcontainer. The principal object of the invention is to provideconvenient and effective means for preventirnq the granular compositionfrom sifting out of the container during handling and storage prior toplacing the cell in operation.- In the preferred .form of the presentmethod, this object is attained by coating or lining the container witha sheet material adapted to be disintegrated by the electrolyte used inthe cell.

The invention will be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which y Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through agalvanic cell provided with a'lined receptacle for the depolarizingcomposition;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a papercoated metal blank; and

Figx 3 is a perspective view of a container having a removable wrapper.

Referring to Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a perforated containersuspended by rod 2 from cover 3 and immersed in electrolyte 4. Theinvention is particularly applicable to copper oxid cells, and thestructure illustrated is a commercial formof a cell of that type. videdand the container 1 is filled with granular copper oxid 6.

The container 1 is lined with a suitable material 7, preferably paper.The" lining is applied to the container either as an adherent layer or;by insertion of a paper bag or The copper oxid is then filled into thecontainer. By proceeding in this manner the objectionable sifting of thegranular material through the container perforations, during handlingand storage, is prevented.

The. container, "lining and depolarizer may be assembled in any suitableway. 'For example, a bag may be fitted into the containerand thedepolarizing composition then tamped in, or the copper oxid may betamped into a bag, supported by a mold, and the vfilled bag may then beplaced in the container. When the oxid is to be tamped into the linedcontainer under considerable pressure, it is desirable to provide aremovable Zinc electrodes 5 are pro- As shown in Fig. 9. perforatedsheet metal 8 may be covered with paper or the like 7 for use in makingup the dcpolarizer containers. The paper may be readily applied bypassing it with the metal betwcen rollers, an adhesive being previouslydistributed over the surface of contact between the materials. Thepaper-coated metal may then be formed into containers in the usualmanner. Lined containers may be conveniently made at low cost in themanner described.-

0- prefer to use relatively thin, unglazed paper. This is suflicientlystrong to remain intact and prevent sifting of the depolarizer, but isreadily disintegrated by the caustic electrolyte. After assembly of thecell there is no need for continued closure of the perforations and theremoval of the closing means by disintegration, or the like, isdesirable to permit unimpeded access of the electrolyte to thedepolarizer.

According to another form of the invention, illustrated in Fig. 3, aremovable Wrapper 9 is provided. The wrapper may be made of heavy paper,cloth, or the like and is secured by means of adhesive strips 10, whichretain it in smooth, firm engagement with the container. Strips 10 haveprojecting ends 11 which may be grasped to tear off the strips andpermit the removal of the wrapping when the container is to be laced inelectrolyte. Various other means curing the paper or the like to thecontainer may be adopted, provided they permit. of The ready removal ofAside from the advantage of retaining.

the (lepolarizer, the wrapping may also serve to protect the surface ofthe conta ner, making 1t unnecessary to use iron which has been tinnedor otherwise treated to prevent- The cost of .the container is thusrusting. reduced and 01' sea a positive advantage is obtained I by theelimination of tin and other coating metals detrimental to cell action}We are aware that it has heretofore been proposed to fill theperforations in depolarizer containers with an electrolyte-solublemechanically or by the disintegrating action of the electrolyte. In thismanner reliable protection against sifting is provided Withoutmaterially increasing the internal resistr to moisture but adapted to bedissolved by ance. of the cell.

We claim:

1. A primary cell comprising a container, zinc and copper electrodes,and electrolyte, said copper electrode comprising a perforatedcopper'contain'er, a body of copper oxide therein and a rotective membertherefor comprising a ayer of "thin un lazed paper surrounding saidcopper oxi e between said copper electrode and said copper oiride, saidpaper being normally resistant to water and soluble in said electrolyteto cause oxide and container to contact on putting in service.

caustic solution, a zinc electrode therein, a

copper electrode adapted to bepositioned therein and comprising aperforated sheet copper container, a thin unglazed paper liner thereforhaving a substantial resistance said electrolyte, and a body of copperoxide within said copper container and separated therefrom'by said paperprior to putting in service thereof.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature,

.GOFFREY A. LYON. In testimony whereof we afiix our signatrues. E

' GEORGE W. HE'ISE.

RAYMOND W; ERWIN,

